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Gujarat Titans strengthen their lead after strong performances from Gill and Sai Sudharsan
Gujarat Titans strengthen their lead after strong performances from Gill and Sai Sudharsan
IPL 2025: Sai Sudharsan scored a fifth fifty this IPL season and is now the orange cap leader. Gill and Sudharsan scored a 100-run partnership against the Kolkata Knight Riders.
Despite losing the last time they batted first, Gujarat Titans (GT) stuck to their usual strategy starting cautiously, reading the pitch conditions, and avoiding unnecessary risks. This time, it paid off as they posted 198/3 on a challenging surface, a total they defended comfortably against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), strengthening their position at the top of the table.
Shubman Gill led the charge with a brilliant 90 off 55 balls. GT’s top three batters did most of the scoring, putting up 183 runs between them, despite a slow powerplay where they didn’t lose a wicket. The pitch wasn’t easy for free-flowing stroke play, so Gill and B Sai Sudharsan focused on rotating the strike with occasional aggressive shots. They built a solid 114-run partnership for the first wicket before Jos Buttler finished strongly with 41 off 23 balls.
Some wondered if GT could have scored more, but their disciplined bowling made the most of the pitch, proving their batting approach right and securing a convincing 39-run victory.
Pitch Analysis
Gujarat Titans (GT) have a playing style similar to that of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at their best, trusting their batters to adjust during the game and relying on bowlers to minimise risks when batting. This IPL, they’ve had the second-slowest powerplay scoring rate but are the fastest team overall. Their approach is clear—start carefully and accelerate later. In this match, they avoided boundaries for the first 11 balls, hit just one aerial shot in the powerplay, and reached 45 runs when the field restrictions were in place.
Gill & Sai Sudharsan's Strategy
Gill didn’t attack much during the power play, but once he settled in, he shifted gears and targeted the deep fielders. He began cautiously with 6 off 11 balls, then used Harshit Rana’s pace to reach 22 off 19. His big momentum shift came against Moeen Ali, smashing a six followed by two boundaries. However, he dialled back his aggression when facing Sunil Narine, playing with a bit more caution.
GT’s calculated approach paid off, balancing patience with bursts of attacking play at the right moments.
Sai Sudharsan steps up
Sai Sudharsan took the pressure off Gill by attacking Tamil Nadu teammate Varun Chakravarthy and then Harshit Rana, who was making the ball grip with his offcutters. He even reached his fifty faster than Gill, getting there in 33 balls compared to Gill’s 34. Soon after, he claimed the Orange Cap.
Buttler & Gill keep up the momentum
Sudharsan’s dismissal to Andre Russell’s extra bounce could have given KKR some hope, but Buttler shut it down quickly with three consecutive fours in the same over. Gill then took charge against the main spinners, scoring 12 and 11 runs off the 16th and 17th overs. GT dominated the spin attack, as the spinners bowled 11 overs without taking a single wicket while conceding 96 runs, all without GT playing recklessly.
Gill narrowly missed out on a century, falling to a full toss that he hit straight to deep midwicket. But Buttler and Shah Rukh Khan made sure GT finished strong, scoring 85 runs in the last eight overs.
KKR's struggles with the bat continue
KKR made a lineup change, hoping for better results, but they still felt confident chasing anything below 210. However, GT’s approach to batting paid off. While they might occasionally fall slightly short of a perfect chase, they rarely end up way off the mark by being overly aggressive. Lucknow Super Giants executed a flawless chase in their last match, but KKR, on the other hand, were far from ideal in their effort.
Mohammed Siraj began in style with an unplayable outswinger that completely beat Rahmanullah Gurbaz. Ajinkya Rahane was the only KKR batter who looked comfortable, while Sunil Narine and Venkatesh Iyer struggled at the other end. Narine managed a quick 17 off 13 balls, but Venkatesh's slow 14 off 19 meant KKR desperately needed a classic Andre Russell rescue act.
Rahane hit a solid fifty in 36 balls but was immediately stumped by a smart wide delivery from Washington Sundar. Russell began with a four and a six off Sundar, but Sai Kishore’s smart spin kept him quiet. Rashid Khan then sealed the deal by dismissing Russell, leaving KKR with an almost impossible chase.
Towards the end, Prasidh Krishna further strengthened his position at the top of the Purple Cap standings, finishing with figures of 4-0-25-2, taking his wicket tally to 16.
GT’s disciplined performance ensured they stayed in control and secured a dominant win!
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